On summer’s final day, Local Spins looks back at the rollercoaster ride of perhaps the busiest concert season West Michigan has ever seen, with exhilarating ups and stomach-churning downs.
Consider the staggering numbers for the summer of 2014 in West Michigan.
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A slew of outdoor festivals logged their best attendance ever, including Delton’s Buttermilk Jamboree, Rosa Parks Circle’s GRandJazzFest, Grand Rapids’ Founders Fest, Fifth Third Ballpark’s Summer Concert Series, Perrin Brewing’s Backyard Beer Bash, Wheatland Music Festival and Rothbury’s sold-out Electric Forest (which has since signed a contract to keep the jam band/EDM-styled festival going for another 10 years). Combined, these festivals entertained upwards of 100,000 people.
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park had, by far, its most successful season ever with 25 sellouts out of a record 30 concerts, with 54,855 people pouring into the outdoor amphitheater – a 16.9 percent increase over 2013, when there were just 14 sellouts. (The Tuesday Evening Music Club series spotlighting local/regional acts did take a slight dip in attendance – probably due to inclement weather on a few Tuesday nights – with 11,620 people turning out this year compared to 12,626 in 2013.)
As always, festivals ranging from the star-studded Wheatland and last weekend’s Earthwork Harvest Gathering outside Lake City to the return of both the Cowpie Music Festival in southern Kent County and Hoxeyville in the Manistee National Forest, boasted truly thrilling moments (including Greensky Bluegrass’ triumphant headlining sets at Hoxeyville).
Of course, as impressive as many summer performances certainly were, quantity doesn’t always equal quality, so there were a few stinkers and odd moments tossed into the mix.
And while Local Spins boasted a presence at more concerts and more festivals than ever before, we still couldn’t be quite everywhere, so feel free to fill in the blanks and submit your own picks for favorite (or not-so-favorite) shows of the summer.
MOST ROUSING ARENA SHOW
The Black Keys and Cage the Elephant, Sept. 7, Van Andel Arena – For a couple of garage-rockers from Akron, The Black Keys have made a seamless, exhilarating transition from small clubs to arenas. Their most recent tour stop in Grand Rapids upped the ante with a stellar light show, artsy video backdrop and downright killer blues-infused riff. And opener Cage the Elephant provided the very definition of “high-energy.”
BIGGEST ARENA TRAINWRECK
Motley Crue, July 2, Van Andel Arena – Nothing else even comes close. Motley Crue’s tour-opening debacle at Van Andel Arena was everything an over-hyped rock show shouldn’t be. Stops and starts, sloppy performances, broken gear, completely gratuitous f-word-strewn babbling, a poor sound mix and a general stage demeanor that suggested these guys either didn’t practice enough or didn’t really care that fans paid a hefty price-tag for tickets to this farewell tour kickoff. Some over-the-top stage gimmickry (like the upside-down drum journey) just made it seem even sillier, sorta like Spinal Tap … only not nearly as funny. Even Alice Cooper’s engaging opening set of shock rock couldn’t save the day.
MOST IMPRESSIVE LOCAL/REGIONAL BAND SHOWS
The Soil and The Sun CD-Release Show, Aug. 9, Founders Brewing Co. – Not only is this spacey folk-rock band’s latest album, “Meridian,” an epic, instant classic, but its Grand Rapids CD-release show drew the biggest crowd I’ve witnessed at Founders, with fans completely enveloped by the wall-of-sound, sonic beauty that this nationally acclaimed group produces. (The same weekend, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish gave a charged-up, off-the-hook performance at The Pyramid Scheme. And The Crane Wives’ tour kickoff show in late July with The Accidentals at Founders was an amped-up, jam-packed affair, too.)
Tuesday Evening Music Club with Ralston Bowles & Friends, The Accidentals, Rick Chyme, Aug. 26, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park – One never quite knows what singer-songwriter Ralston Bowles might have up his sleeve for his annual TEMC finale, and frankly, he might not even know himself until game time. To say that adds another level of excitement and anticipation for musicians and fans is probably true, because he outdid himself this year with high-energy performances by Traverse City’s The Accidentals – who paired up for the first time ever with hip hop’s Rick Chyme for a folk-rap collaboration – as well as Bowles’ own all-star band. Read a story and view photos/video from that show at Local Spins here. (The Accidentals followed this up with possibly the most impressive, audience-pleasing debut ever at Wheatland 10 days later.)
Frankie Ballard, June 27, The Intersection’s Rock the Lot – This West Michigan country phenom has since settled in Nashville, but not surprisingly, he’s still a hometown boy anywhere he plays in these parts – and Grand Rapids’ The Intersection is one of his favorite clubs to play (partly because it’s where he first made noise on the country scene). This outdoor show – which also featured Lansing’s Brian Lorente & The Usual Suspects and special guest Kari Lynch – got a huge crowd rowdied up in fine fashion. Check out the Local Spins photos.
(There were other riveting performances, and probably too many to mention, from The Soul Syndicate’s official public debut at the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill to The Concussions returning to Founders Brewing to Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son’s “farewell” bash at The Intersection. And see “Under-the-Radar” below.)
MOST DISAPPOINTING DISPLAYS
Ray LaMontagne, July 23, Meijer Gardens – What else? The oddest night in Meijer Gardens history ended up generating the biggest controversy and debate of the summer over concert etiquette. When LaMontagne cursed out fans who were chatting too loud, dropped his guitar and stormed off stage, little did he know it would garner national attention – and the scorn of many fans who paid a pretty penny to see him. On the other hand, the meltdown put the spotlight on boorish, inattentive segments of the crowd at Meijer Gardens that have become an increasing source of frustration for some concertgoers who have told me they’ll never go back to see another show at the outdoor amphitheater. Check out the Local Spins review and recap of that weird night here. And check out reviewer Tricia Woolfenden’s column/commentary on the subject, too.
Celebration on the Grand, July 4, Ah-Nab-Awen Park – This is not a commentary on the solid performances by local bands who performed, but rather the stunningly disappointing size of the crowd that turned out: a few hundred people, some of them confused by the decision to combine Celebration on the Grand (held in September in the past) with Fourth of July festivities … with the fireworks actually igniting on July 5. This decision may need to be revisited and the event revamped or Celebration on the Grand could be history. Or has it just run its course?
Jackson Browne, July 13, Meijer Gardens – Legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne is unquestionably a master of his craft. His concert at Meijer Gardens proved that with tales about his tunes in a mostly laid-back set. But he played essentially the same solo show the last time he visited Grand Rapids so many fans had hoped to see him backed by a full band for more dynamic renderings of those classics. People groused to me about it that night and I’m still hearing it from disappointed fans. On the flip side, some Browne devotees called it one of the best shows they’d ever seen. It’s all about expectations, isn’t it?
STRONGEST MEIJER GARDENS SHOWS
Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Aug. 13, Meijer Gardens — Now that we got that disappointing stuff out of the way, it’s time to turn to the truly electrifying shows that graced the outdoor amphitheater this summer, starting with the acoustic guitar phenomenon that is Rodrigo Y Gabriela. This Mexican duo was not only masterful but eye-popping, jaw-dropping and just plain audience-energizing in one of those “I’m so glad I was there” shows. Check out the Local Spins review and photos.
Lake Street Dive, Aug. 28, Meijer Gardens — There’s good reason for Lake Street Dive’s skyrocketing reputation. Local Spins reviewer Tricia Woolfenden called the band’s show, with the upbeat fun-loving Lowdown Brass Band opening, an “attractive mix of pure musical talent and magnetic stage presence” in one of the season’s most impressive displays.
Santana, June 1, Meijer Gardens — For those who could afford the $150 tickets, this series kickoff show was all it was cracked up to be with Santana firing up his trademark guitar mastery backed by a Latin-infused ensemble that was tighter than tight. Despite some folks getting testy after having trouble finding $150-worthy places to sit in the jam-packed amphitheater, Santana was as solid as ever as noted in the Local Spins review.
Other prime-time candidates: Nickel Creek, Ziggy Marley, John Legend, Gavin DeGraw/Matt Nathanson, Ben Harper/Charlie Musselwhite.
BEST UNDER-THE-RADAR SETS
Bill Kirchen, July 30, Riverhouse Ada in Ada – This Texas-based rockabilly and country-blues hero played one of the unlikeliest of places (the lawn next to Riverhouse Ada not far from the Thornapple River) on one of the summer’s most beautiful nights and turned it into one of the highlights of the summer. Kirchen, a native of Ann Arbor, enjoyed himself thoroughly in the homey, fan-friendly setting with Junior Valentine and members of Fauxgrass joining him on stage at different points during the show. Let’s hope Riverhouse Ada hosts more of these lawn chair-powered “backyard parties” in the future. Check out more about that show in this Local Spins recap.
Alejandro Escovedo, June 18, The Stache inside The Intersection – It’s probably appropriate that under-rated Americana/rock artist Alejandro Escovedo played the intimate confines of The Stache with violinist Susan Voelz. He packed the room, and the cozy environment just made his story-telling and inspired playing that much more compelling. The finale, playing Mott the Hoople’s “I Wish I Was Your Mother” surrounded by the audience was spine-tingling. Read more about that and view the video in this Local Spins review.
X, Sept. 8, and The Hold Steady, Sept. 10, The Pyramid Scheme – Twice in three days, The Pyramid Scheme outdid itself with stunning performances by two rock powerhouses: the legendary punk band X and the raucous live rocksters, The Hold Steady.
Local Spins reviewer Brian J. Bowe called X’s show possibly “the greatest, purest punk experience Grand Rapids has seen in quite a while.” Read the review here. Reviewer Troy Reimink raved that The Hold Steady assembled “a massive night” and one heckuva party. Read his review.
Billy Strings & Don Julin, Sept. 19, Rockford Brewing – Hard to pick which Rockford Brewing performance by this Traverse City bluegrass duo was more captivating, but it’s hard to beat the most recent standing-room-only appearance which not only showcased their prodigious talent but the animated enthusiasm of the capacity crowd for the pair’s music.
Lydia Loveless, July 25, Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill – The Tip Top oozes a special sort of milieu, especially when the small club is jam-packed full of sweaty, rowdy fans. That makes performances such as singer Lydia Loveless’ rock-hued, firebrand style of Americana (or May’s amped-up rock show by Nashville’s Bluefields) seem more intense, more invigorating and, well, just more. The same is true for the vibe at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up, which has boasted plenty of rousing sellouts, including two straight, much-buzzed-about shows by former “American Idol” star Crystal Bowersox in early August.
BEST FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE
Charles Bradley and The Extraordinaires, June 21, Founders Fest – It’s more than a bit challenging – and frankly, ludicrous – to pick the best festival performance after a summer like this, but when soul singer Charles Bradley is involved, it’s hard to pick against him. He followed up his much-acclaimed Pyramid Scheme performance in Grand Rapids last winter with a just-as-impressive display of R&B power and passion by playing for a huge crowd at Founders Fest.
There were plenty of festival pleasures, of course, such as Umphrey’s McGee literally, uh, lighting up the stage at Electric Forest with a late-night spectacle; The Legal Immigrants tearing it up at the end of the night at Cowpie; Airborne or Aquatic? uncorking a smile-inducing rock show at Hoxeyville followed by a magnificent set by Greensky Bluegrass; Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers and Particle pumping up dancers at Perrin’s Backyard Beer Bash in audience-pleasing fashion; stellar performances all around at the two-day GRandJazzFest; The Mainstays and Steppin’ In It getting groovy at Buttermilk, plus more groovy stuff that I’m sure you folks will remind me about.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
Hoxeyville Music Fest — Greensky Bluegrass opening night and then intimate concert in the deep woods later that night.
Rodrigo and Grabriela at Meijer Gardens
Billy Strings and Don Julin at Fountain Point Resort on Lake Leelenau.
Guilty pleasure: Bruno Mars ‘Moonshine Jungle’ tour at Van Andel Arena